Street Safety

Leandra's Law, passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by Governor Paterson last year, mandates ignition interlocks for motorists convicted of DWI and makes it a felony to drive drunk with children as passengers. But since it was adopted, over two dozen counties have asked for a two-year moratorium on implementation of the law, set to begin in August.

This clip from yesterday's Assembly Transportation Committee meeting doesn't quite live up to the hype.

At yesterday's meeting of the State Senate codes committee, Hayley and Diego's Law passed in a 13-3 vote. The bill, which should give prosecutors greater leeway to bring charges against motorists who injure or kill pedestrians and cyclists, now moves to the finance committee. It passed the full Assembly earlier this week.

A few minutes ago, Hayley and Diego's Law cleared a vote in the full State Assembly. The next hurdle is the codes committee in the fractious State Senate, where it's scheduled to come up for a vote tomorrow.

We have a few quick updates on pending traffic safety legislation to pass along.

Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, speaking, with Daniel Squadron and Scott Stringer at last year’s rally for Hayley and Diego’s Law. To Squadron’s right are Wendy Cheung, Hayley Ng’s aunt, and Jon Adler, representative for the families of Ng and Diego Martinez. Hayley and Diego’s Law, a bill making its way through Albany that would give … Continued

Legislation to require transportation projects in New York state to include pedestrian and bicycle access was reported out of the Senate transportation committee Tuesday.

On Monday DOT marked National Work Zone Awareness Week with a new PR campaign and a call for state legislators to adopt penalties for drivers who endanger road workers -- and, ergo, city pedestrians and cyclists.

Last January, Alexander Aponte struck and killed nine-year-old Ibrihim Ahmed in Ozone Park while driving with a suspended license. He was charged with a misdemeanor -- driving without a license -- that carried a maximum penalty of $500 and/or 30 days in prison. The Queens DA's office said prosecutors couldn't levy more serious charges unless Albany rewrote the laws.